Crossing Battlefields Chapter Sixty-Eight: Blades, a star wars: the clone wars fanfic

Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, not me. All the characters and places (except for my OC Analise) belong to them. General trigger warning is in effect.

"aaaa"-talking out loud. "aaaa" (bold and italics)-talking through a holo or com. 'aaaaa'-inner thoughts. "aaaaa"-talking through a Bond or talking during a Force Vision. aaaa-Force Vision. "aaaa" (bold)-talking in another language. ("aaa") (bold, italics, and parenthesis)-talking through a holo or com in another language.

AN: It's youngling time! Okay first off I want to let you guys know that I won't be doing the actual Gathering episode itself simply because I wouldn't change anything, so I opted to speak that and start with the following episode instead.

Thank you to Jake, SpiritFghter208, BanzEye and Multiple-Fandom-Writer for the reviews:)

-I knew when I was writing You Will Never Loose Me that some people might feel a little iffy about Ahsoka and Rex getting engaged when she is only sixteen. But they are in the middle of a war so this was a way for them to express their love. But that's about as far as it will go for now because of that war as well. I mention a little about it in this chapter so I hope that helps.

Like I said we are ready for younglings! Ahsoka is traveling back to Coruscant with some young members who are flying high after getting their kyber crystals on Illum. But the galaxy is at war and danger is lurking around almost every corner...

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~The young are often underestimated~ A Test of Strength, Clone Wars Season Five

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Blades

Hondo Ohnaka was a pirate and proud of it. He had rubbed elbows with rich and poor, robbed people before they even realized it. He had even helped Jedi, double-crossed them, then helped them again. The life of a pirate was twisting and turning. So much that it could make a being dizzy and Hondo never got dizzy.

Yes he was a proud pirate, but he also had a strict code of honor. It was flexible though when it came to making a living and making sure that his crew was taken care of. But there were still some lines that he just didn't want to cross.

But now he might now have a choice.

Hondo sat back in the Captain's chair on the bridge of his ship and sighed.

This...this was asking for trouble.

But he needed to do something to make sure that he and his crew made it through the war.

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Ahsoka stretched her arms up over her head as she strolled down one of the Crucible's corridors. It felt so good to be back out in the field again. Though taking charge of a handful on younglings on their Gathering wasn't exactly her idea of an action-packed mission. It was an honor though since there were no other Master or Knight making her the highest ranked Jedi on-board. It told Ahsoka that the Council trusted her in helping to shape at least these future Jedi.

And such a light mission, nothing more than baby-sitting really, eased Rex's mind when the reports from the Mind Healer's deemed Ahsoka well enough to return to the field after Onderon.

Rex. Her sweet, gentle, gruff, loving Captain. She smiled down at the ring she wore on a chain around her neck. The two had talked about taking off after she turned eighteen and just getting married. But Ahsoka knew that to them it was a joke. There were things that had to be done first. The biggest being that the war had to end. Then they needed to know what would happen to the Clones, if they would granted their rights. Ahsoka wanted to be a Knight when they married and she doubted she would be one by the time she was eighteen. The Council would also need to approve of their engagement, but there was no doubt of that.

So for now Ahsoka and Rex were content with betrothal that could be years and years depending on everything.

But the Force and the tide of the war was shifting. She could feel it.

Ahsoka shook her head as the door to the main training room on the Crucible slid open before her. She paused as she stepped inside.

Petro had donned a helmet and grabbed a training staff. One of the training remotes hovered in front of him, randomly sending out sharp, stinging blasts that he was suppose to block though he could not see them. The other younglings were perched on counters, leaning or sitting on stools, or standing as they watched him.

Ahsoka smiled and crossed her arms as Petro easily blocked all the shots. Then with a sweep of the staff, he struck the remote, sending it bouncing off a couple metal containers and nearly hitting Byph in the ankle before it slammed into the floor. Petro coolly bent down and picked it up as he pushed the helmet back so that he could see.

"And that," he said as he puffed out his chest "Is my signature move that I call the Whirlwind of Destiny." Zatt did the Nautolan take on eye rolling.

"You're just a show-off," he huffed.

Petro was good. There was no doubt about it, but he was being a bit of a show-off and that was never good for a Jedi. Anakin bragged about his skills, made jokes about being the best; but he was always careful to avoid showing off. At least he avoided showing off too much.

Ahsoka lightly clapped her hands which had all the younglings snapping to attention. Petro hurriedly pulled off the helmet as she approached him. His chest was still puffed out and he beamed up at Ahsoka as though waiting for her to praise him.

Instead she smiled. "Alright younglings. I need all of you to come and gather around please." She took the remote and staff from Petro. With a smirk she dropped the helmet on top of Ganodi's head. The Rodain huffed as he shifted the helmet around before pulling it off her head. He almost fell down as he just narrowly missed her punch.

"Now then," Ahsoka gave the pair a stern look as she stepped behind the counter. Behind were towering shelving units that reached up to the ceiling dotted with dozens and dozens of drawers in neat rows stretching all the way to the back wall. "All you are because you have taken part in the Gathering and have successfully harvested a kyber crystal of your very own."

"It was amazing!" Gungi bellowed and thrust his furry arms high into the air.

"Does that mean we can finally start building our sabers?"

"So you all think you are ready then?" Five heads quickly nodded in turn. "Alright. First step is to place your crystals here on the counter." The crystals each let out a soft, unique chime as they hit the counter. Hints of the songs they would sing for the Jedi whose hands held the hilts of their blades. "Now please allow me to introduce you to Huyang. He is both a master architect and lightsaber designer."

Ahsoka watched with a smile as the younglings eyes grew big. An old Mark IV architect droid emerged from behind a shelving unit. He might have been a bright gold color at one point long ago, but the gold had faded into a dull old gold and dusty. Huyang's joints creaked as he reached the counter and leaned close, his glowing yellow optical receptors peering closely at each of the younglings.

"So this is the new batch of younglings?" his mechanical voice was full of mirth. "They really do get younger and younger with every expedition. I swear by both the Force and the Maker." He tapped his chin with a finger. "You're telling me that all of them have passed the Gathering?"

"Yes Professor Huyang." The old droid swung around to face Ahsoka.

"Really? Every single one of them?" She wanted to roll her eyes. If the rumors were to be believed, Huyang always acted surprised when he learned that every youngling sent in a group to the Gathering passed it. If he had been an organic, they could see it was because of his age. But he was a droid so everyone shurgged and just said that it was Huyang being Huyang.

Ahsoka opened her mouth to reply, but someone else beat her to it. "He's a droid Ahsoka! Are you telling us that a droid is going to teach us what we need to know?"

"Who spoke?" Huyang swung back to face the younglings. "Come now. Who was it that said it?"

Ganodi pushed her way to the front of the pack. Standing behind Petro meant that no had seen her. Her sparkling black eyes stared the old droid down as she crossed her arms and jutted out her chin.

"I have been on this ship for many years youngling. More years than you can count. I have spent those years teaching many, many Jedi. Again more than you can count. This I will continue to do for many, many more years after you have left this ship." He began to pace back and forth. "You may call me what you want youngling, but my memory banks inside here," he tapped the side of his head, "Contain records of every single lightsaber that has ever been made as well as the Jedi that built them." He pressed a button on the counter and a simmering blue hologram flared to life. The younglings let out cries of excitement as before them they saw some of the sabers that they saw in their history lessons or in the hands of Knights and Masters they knew well.

Ahsoka smiled as she saw the sabers for Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Analise hanging there in mid-air next to Yoda and Mace, Plo and Qui-Gon.

"Now which will the style you choose? Will you go with a simple hilt or one that is elegantly curved? Will you opt to have your hilt inlaid with bone from a Cartusion whale? What about pastillion ore or black onk? Or will you keep it simple and plain? Well now?" Huyang ducked back around a column set with drawers and hooks upon which rested old hilts. The younglings stared in awe at the holo as he continued. "During all the conflicts in galactic history, from the Battles of Rashfond, the Peacekeeping of Parliock, to the Clone Wars we fight today, it has been the lightsaber that has reminded the one and true ally of the Jedi." He brought his hands together as if to pray.

Ganodi stepped back as Huyang came out from around the counter, bent down, and plucked a crystal. A magnifying lens lowered in front of his right optical receptor. "But the question you must ask yourselves is how does a lightsaber work. I see that you have each brought me a crystal. However," the lens flipped back up, "These crystals are useless to you until you have given them life. Tell me younglings. How do you awaken the Force within a kyber crystal?" They shook their heads side to side. Some fast, some slow. "You don't know do you?"

Ahsoka smirked as she watched and listened. Huyang sounded truly shocked that they did not know. It was fun to watch even though she knew it really wasn't that long ago that she had been the same age as the younglings under her care. That age when every new thing you learned about the Force and what it meant to truly be a Jedi seemed so magical and galaxy shattering.

"Then I suggest that you remain quiet so that you can listen to and learn from the lessons I have for you. Only when you have thought of a question that you know this droid cannot answer may you speak...Ah!" Huyang leaned eagerly towards Gungi who took a slight step back. "Why, you're a Wookie!" There was excitement in Huyang's mechanical voice as he looked the youngling up and down. "Why a Jedi Wookie is very rare. Your people and family must be very proud of you."

Gungi gave a soft huff of "Yes." His family was indeed proud of him as were his people. Long had the Wookies and Jedi been close. It was always a source of celebration when a Wookie was found to be Force Sensitive and was sent to the Temple to train.

"Well then your lightsaber will be just as unique as you are. Place your hand in mine hands Wookie and describe to what you see when you picture your lightsaber." Gungi gently placed his large hand on top of Huyang's. They were easily covered by the Wookie paw.

"I always picture my lightsaber to be big and powerful. Something like what a hero would carry and..."

"No, no, no," Huyang shook his head. "I didn't mean for you to describe the lightsaber that you see in your head what imagine it. I want you to tell of the lightsaber that you feel in your hand. Now concentrate youngling and tell what sort of lightsaber you will need. What is the lightsaber that will make strong in battle and yet also humble in retreat? What is it that connects to you and your Force?"

The young Wookie closed his eyes and there was a soft stirring of the Force as he focused. He flexed his hand as through wrapping it around a hilt before opening his eyes. "Nature...something natural. Feels like wood, not metal."

"Of course, of course. Wood!" Huyang drew back. "Well it's not a common choice, but I did say that the saber would be as unique as you. It will have to be wood from the Brylark tree of course for only that wood is as strong as the more common metal." The old droid retreated back band the counter. "But where would we even find Brylark wood all the way out here in deep space? We're far, far, far away from any place with a market." Huyang switched off the holo. "Now let me see..." he walked among the floor to ceiling shelving units, his head and hands moving as he ran through the various different drawers. He crawled onto a ladder, a pair of arms with claws extending out from his back. "What do we have..." he muttered to himself as he opened and pulled out various drawers on both sides, barely glancing through them before shutting them once more. "No...no...no...no...Oh! I was wondering where I put that..."

Even Ganodi was now watching Huyang with more interest than disbelief. The younglings were all leaning for better views, though they kept some distance from the counter in case it wasn't aloud.

"Huh? That's not even mine. How did it get...Aha!" Huyang hopped the step ladder, shutting one drawer and pulling another one out entirely. It was this drawer that he brought over and laid on the counter.

"Wow!"

"Look at that! So wizard!"

"You can sure say that again."

It was like the barrier keeping the younglings back had broken and they now stormed the counter. Those in the back piled on top of those in the front who leaned on the counter. They stared at the content of the drawer in excitement as Huyang sorted through was a mess of jumbled bits and parts that made no sense.

It was with these parts that Huyang made a very basic lightsaber. He had done it so many times that he quick and finished in no more than a couple of minutes. Huyang held the finished hilt up for all the younglings to see. "My job here is to ensure that all of you have everything you need to build a lightsaber of your own with the knowledge of how to do it before you leave this ship." He set the hilt down. "Therefore let us being for there is a great deal more work to be done."

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"Well? Where are they now?"

"No worries boss. That Jedi ship of their's is right in front of us."

Inside a part of Hondo sighed. He had been half-hoping that by the time they got there, the Jedi would have been long gone, on their way back to the Temple. He knew his actions were going to cause ripples, maybe ensure that the Jedi would hunt him down even...

But there was little chance that a Jedi he personally knew would be on the ship and all his men were under strict orders not to hurt or kill anyone. Steal yes, cause more injury than was necessary, no.

"Keep on them. If you loose them, than you're going to loose more than just your head. Now for this work we must mount a swift and devastating attack. We cannot give them any time to get away."

"Seriously? I thought we weren't going to do anything that would mean messing with Jedi anymore Captain."

He flinched for that was true. "Well these aren't Jedi now, are they?" he said with a false bravado and thumped the Ishi Tib on his back. "They're nothing but a few younglings on their way back home to the Temple after doing a training mission. And they carry with them the most important treasure in the entire universe. They have kyber crystals that they use for making their laser swords. But for a regular man like us, just selling a single crystal is enough to make a man very, very rich! And everyone here knows just how much I like to be rich...don't they?" The crew gave a half-hearted cheer.

He didn't blame them.

A part of Hondo didn't want to do this, but he was a pirate and this was an opportunity. One that meant both profit which would help rebuild his crew.

One that meant his crew would possibly be safe and left alone to run their schemes in the rumored new age to come.

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The training room was quiet now. A large holo of disassembled lightsabers floated overhead. The younglings had scattered, some sitting at the counter, others on the floor or seats at the table. But none of them looked up as Ahsoka or Huyang passed them on their rounds and none of them spoke.

For building a lightsaber required the being who was building it to sink into a form of meditation. It was in this meditation that the crystal that had sang to them in the caves would become more attuned to their Force Signature. It was in this meditation that they would form the connections of metal and wire, knobs to control the power that was being outputted, the length of the laser. It was in this meditation that any desgins and markings that were to be on the hilt were formed and that all the parts came together. It was at the end of this meditation that a Jedi would exit it and find that they had hopefully created a fully functional lightsaber.

For some it was not easy. The meditation had to be light enough to be aware of what was happening to avoid any mistakes, but deep enough to feel the Force flowing around and through. For those beings it would take time to reach and time to make the weapon that was their life.

But Petro thought it was easy.

He could feel Zatt next to him, slowly going through every inch of metal and wire components. But he didn't see the point of all that. There was no way that Huyang or Ahsoka would give them bad materials to work with.

Plus he was the best so he should be the first to finish.

There was a sharp click as the final pieces snapped into place and the hilt landed softly into Petro's plams. Metal clattered on the table next to him as Zatt came out of his meditation and his brown eyes stared at his friend.

"Man Petro. What's got you in such a rush?"

Petro chuckled at the Nautolan boy's question as he began to wave the lightsaber through a series of combat moves without turning on the hilt. "I am going to use this lightsaber to challenge the great Obi-Wan Kenobi to a duel. Then I will take it and kill that scrapheap Grievous!" He could see it now. The cheering crowds, the proud faces of the Council, his name written down in history for helping to end the war. Petro would be a legend.

"Really?" Huyang spoke over the giggling of the girls who had also stopped to watch Petro. He stepped up to stand in between Zatt and Petro with a hand held out. Slowly the young human boy dropped his finished lightsaber into the droid's hands. His magnifying lens dropped down in front of his optical receptor as he took the hilt in both hands, twisted, and pulled it apart just enough to see inside. Huyang quickly glanced over the innards before shaking his metal head. "You will only be killing yoursel my young friend with this and no one else." A claw popped out of his back, came over his shoulder, and pointed to a section. "Look here, the emitter matrix has been inverted. That will cause the power grid to backfire." With a snap Huyang twisted the saber back together and gave it back to Petro. "Turn that on Petro and there won't be anything left of you or your lightsaber except for your crystal. Now start again and this time make sure to follow the diagram," Huyang gesture to the large holo in the center of the room.

Petro made a face at Huyang's back from flipping his lightsaber a couple times and striking a heroic pose. So it was a set-back. A minor one that he could fix.

He could still be the first one done so there was no need to rush.

He nodded to himself.

Yep a break was exactly what he needed.

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"Oh...poodoo!" The parts of her lightsaber tumbled to the counter and Ganodi let her head follow. This sucked! She could solve complex mathematical formulas and translate computer code without blinking an eye, but she couldn't seem to build her lightsaber. "They're going to kick me out of the Order!"

"No they won't," a gently hand came to rest on her shoulder. "You're just being tense and nervous Ganodi. You need to quiet your mind and concentrate. I know it's hard." Ahsoka glanced between Ganodi and Katooni as the Rodain lifted her head up. She knew what it was like not to be able to quiet the millions of thoughts in her head when she needed to.

The girls shook themselves out a little, closed their eyes, and sank back into their meditations. The components of their lightsabers drifted in the air before them as they waved their hands like they were conductors.

"That's good," Ahsoka quietly cheered them on. "Be gentle now. Trust in the Force..."

BANG!

The entire ship shook and Ahsoka braced herself as it settled back down.

"What was that Ahsoka?" the Tholothian asked nervously.

Ahsoka reached out lightly with the Force. She could feel a slight warning...

The alarms began to blare, some of the lights started to flash. "I don't know what it was Katooni. Listen up! I'm going to go find out what just happened. All of you are to stay here and listen to Professor Huyang. Got it?"

She didn't wait for a reply as she ran out the door.

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"Artoo!" Ahsoka onto the narrow cockpit of the Crucible. Anakin had lent Artoo to her for the Gathering saying that he could pilot the ship and not saying he was really sending the little droid as a guard since none of their family or trusted friends were going with her. "What's happening?" The ship shook again and she grabbed onto the edge of a panel to keep from falling over.

"There's another ship out there young Mistress!"

"Another ship? Where is it...never mind," Ahsoka shook her head as a Corona-class armed frigate came into view. The round, almost flat ship seemed so much larger than the older Paladin-class corvette that had clearly seen better days. "I've got a bad feeling about this..." The ship fired, bright orange blasts against the black of space. Ahsoka braced herself on a chair and the edge of the control panel. "They're trying to take out the hyperdrive. You've got to get us out of here Artoo!"

"Yes young Mistress!" the astromech chirped. One of his side panels opened up and Artoo plugged into the port by the main controls. Slowly the ship began to turn as the frigate continued to fire upon it.

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They were no longer working on their lightsabers.

Instead Huyang had gathered the younglings in the center of the room. There were more loud bangs that had Katooni and Ganodi hugging each other. After each bang the ship shook, rocking back and forth. Gungi grunted as he lost his balance and sat down hard on the floor.

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The next bang sounded almost like an explosion and Ahsoka winced. The ship began to slowly drift instead of moving into moving into position for hyperspace. "I didn't like the sound of that one. Artoo stay here and see what you can do. I'm going to go back and check on the younglings."

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"Excellent shot!" Hondo cheered even as a part of him cringed back from the view outside the Acushnet. "Now fire the grappling harpoons!" He watched as the pair of harpoons slammed hard and deep into the side of the Jedi ship, pieces of metal breaking free. "Good, good! Now reel that ship in! We'll get on-board and get those crystals."

He turned his back so that he wouldn't have to watch too much of the Jedi ship being pulled closer and closer to them.

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They were close enough now.

Wearing bright green colored space suits, three pirates carefully exited the Acushnet. Two used packs to float over to the Jedi ship while the third rode the docking tube as it extended to the hatch of the other ship. They worked carefully, but quick. Making sure the tube was lined up perfectly and that latched on tight.

There could be no mistakes.

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They could hear strange sounds.

Byph chirped and rubbed his long-fingered hands together nervously as he turned his head back and forth. Ganodi buried her head in the side of Katooni's neck and her best friend held her tight. "What's happening Professor Huyang?" Katooni's voice shook as she tried her best to be brave.

"It sounds like we are being boarded."

"Boarded out here?" Zatt shook his head. "Why?"

Huyang shook his head. "I'm not sure..." The old droid twisted what looked like a random grey button on his chassis. A small receptacle popped out and this he held out to the younglings. "I want all of you to give me your crystals. When it is safe I will return them to you. Quickly now!"

One by one the younglings dropped their crystals into the receptacle. Ganodi letting go of Katooni just long enough to do so before the pair latched back onto each other.

Petro watched as Huyang slid the receptacle back into his chassis then turned away and opened his hand.

There in his palm lay his kyber crystal, glowing blue and softly singing.

He smiled and closed his fist back over it.

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There was soft explosion, red sparks and flames sputtering in the silent corridor as the pirates forced open the hatch. They strode onto the ship, weapons in hand.

It would take them time. Ships like the Crucible were large and offered plenty of spots in which to hide. So they would have to comb every inch they came across.

And do it all before help arrived.

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Ahsoka came to a sliding halt as she heard the tall-tale sounds of plasma torches burning through metal and the popping of seals. Her head jerked around to see one of the hatches being forced open. A sharp ax was already being shoved through to force the hatch to open quicker.

There was very little time.

She turned and raced through the corridors. With each step she forced herself to breath, to remain calm.

Ahsoka dashed through a door into an inner corridor, slamming her hand down on the control panel so that it would shut.

In front of her was Huyang and the younglings. The little Jedi stood there confused, scared, but doing their best to be brave.

"Younglings! Professor Huyang!" she called. The group turned to face her and refelif flowed over all the younglings' faces.

"Ahsoka, what's going on? Who's attacking us?"

"A bunch of pirates Ganodi."

"Real, honest-to-goodness pirates?!" The Rodain youngling wrapped her arms around herself. "Pirates will kill us all."

"Just like in the stories," Byph said as Katooni reached out in comfort to the pair.

"I think it might be a good idea for us then to hide in the ventilation shaft," Huyang jumped in as Ahsoka opened her mouth to speak. Her brow furrowed, markings wrinkling as she thought about it. It made sense. The younglings weren't really ready yet for a huge test of their combat skills and none of them had a working lightsaber yet.

Finally Ahsoka nodded. "Good idea Professor. Follow me guys." She bent down and pulled up a vent cover in the floor. The shaft beneath was just big enough that even Huyang would be able to fit.

"You want us to hide?" Petro scoffed. "To hide is to be a coward. We're Jedi! Jedi stand and fight!"

Ahsoka chuckled to herself as she half-knelt to help them into the shaft. Petro reminded her of her younger self and Anakin. "Don't worry Petro. We are going to fight. But it will be a way that the pirates aren't expecting." Her head jerked up at the sound of a doorway being cut through and red sparks flying into the corridor. "Time to go guys."

"So this is part of our training?" Katooni asked as she hopped down into the shaft.

"It sure is now," Ahsoka smirked as she gently shoved the Tholothian's head down. Gungi was the last one in.

There was a bang and a loud clatter as a door hit the floor.

Ahsoka jumped down into the shaft, pulling the covering back into place.

Overhead came the sounds of boots on metal. Some heavy and some brushing along like the feet in them weren't even being picked up. Ahsoka stayed as still as she could and held a finger to her lips to keep the others quiet. All it would take would be for one pirate to glance down at the vent covering and see them.

"Hondo says to round up the kids and bring them to him," a rough voice ordered as they came and paused right over Ahsoka, Huyang, and the younglings.

"Did he say dead or alive Gwarm?"

"Alive, but yes." Both pirates laughed, sending chills in the Force and down Ahsoka's spine.

"Don't worry young Jedi. You must have courage." She crawled towards them. "So here's the plan. Ganodi and Zatt, you're the best with tech and ships. I want you to join Artoo in the cockpit and secure it. I want the rest of you to go with Professor Huyang to the hold and seal yourselves inside. Wait there for my command."

"What are you going to do Ahsoka?"

"I am going to go and reroute just enough power to the engines. That will let us be able to break free from the pirate ship's hold. Got it?" They didn't need to know that along the way she would be trying to thin the pirate ranks to make sure that the younglings didn't get caught.

"But what about all those pirates already on the ship?"

Ahsoka muffled her sigh since more questions meant loosing time. "Well when the docking tube is ruptured and the ships get pulled apart, it will create this huge vacuum that will suck all the pirates out into space."

"We're going to get sucked into space?"

'Was I ever like this?' "No, not at all Ganodi. You will be sealed inside the hold and cockpit. There will still be air and you're all be safe. Do not, and I really mean this...do not engage the pirates in any way at all! The only job any of you have is to stay hidden. Got it?" All the heads watching her bobbed up and down. "Good. Now move out!"

She waited until the younglings and Huyang had started before crawling down her own path. 'I really hope they listen to me.'

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"Ahhh!" Hondo breathed in deeply even as he walked through smoke. "Smell that? Smells like profit! Ha ha! All very fat, hot, juicy, wonderful profits!" He threw his arms out, an electrostaff clutched in his right hand. With the thoughts of a massive payday and the insurance of his crew's future now within his grasp, Hondo found he wasn't so troubled by guilt for his actions.

It was still there, but more manageable.

"Well then!" he greeted his crew as they met up. "What have you found?"

"We searched and secured the ship, but didn't find a thing. Seems like she's been deserted."

"You blundering imbecile! You call yourself a pirate and fall for the oldest trick in the book. Those Jedi runts are probably hidden away in the ventilation system." Hondo jabbed at the floor with his staff.

"Oh..." Gwarm shrugged sheepishly. "Guess I didn't think of that."

"And why am I not surprised by that?" he sighed and rested his staff on his shoulder. "Look all that really matters is you find the younglings and get their crystals back to me. No killing! If they fight back, knock them out."

"You want us to knock out a bunch of kids?"

"You never learn do you?" Hando reached out and tapped the pirate on the shoulder with his staff. "Here's a little motivation for you. Those kyber crystals on the black market are virtually priceless. And rumor is there some guy willing to pay more than that for even just a small one."

With a smirk Gwarm knelt down and pulled up a vent cover. "Bad news boss. None of us can fit down there."

"Smoke them out!"

"Alright then. You heard the boss!"

Gwarm grabbed a smoke bomb and dropped into the vent as the other pirates scattered through the ship. Their own smoke bombs in hand and the sound of scraping vent coverings echoing through the corridor.

"I do so love me a party!"

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Her nose wrinkled as a sour smell forced its way into her nostrils. Ahsoka started covering her nose and mouth with one hand every few feet. Smoke begin to fill the vent, coming from almost every direction.

It wasn't good.

It meant that the pirates had figured out they were in the vents. Using them to hide and move around.

Ahsoka prayed that the younglings were moving fast.

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The last thing Artoo had been expecting as he rolled back and forth within the cockpit was for the vent covering to pop open. He also wasn't expecting Zatt and Ganodi to then pop up out of the vent. "What are you doing...look out!"

"Hold it!"A pirate passing by had spotted them!

Zatt leap to his feet and ran to the door controls, slamming his hand down on the button to close it. The pirate laughing, wedged himself in between the door and the frame, keeping it from shutting all the way. He grabbed Zatt's arm, yanking at it as the Nautolan frantically kept hitting the button to force the door to close as he tried to pull himself free. "Let go! Let me go!"

Little Ganodi forgot to be afraid when she saw her friend in danger. She burst out of the vent and began hitting the pirate's arm wildly. "Get off of Zatt!"

"Get back brat!" the priate let go of Zatt who dropped down and placed his hand over Ganodi's face, shoving her backwards. She fell to the ground as he forced the door the rest of the way open and stepped inside. He smirked as he held his scythe over the Rodian. "Now that's not a nice thing to do to friends is it?" He laughed again.

"You leave them alone!" Artoo whistled angrily and he charged forward. He jammed his electro-shock prod into the pirate, shocking him with everything he had. The Weequey yelped before falling unconscious and his body hit the floor, most of it laying in the corridor outside the cockpit.

Zatt and Ganodi both took a deep breath. "Thanks for that Artoo," Zatt said as he stood back up and hit the door control panel. The door began to close, but stopped when it the pirate's foot. Zatt shrugged and kicked the foot clear of the door.

He hoped the others were having a easier time getting to the hold.

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"Hurry now younglings. Keep up," Huyang cheered on the younglings as he stopped and looked back at them. "We're not too far from the hold now."

"Stop Professor!" Katooni reached out as she felt the familiar tickle of a warning running down her spine. "Something's not right..."

There was a thud as metal ball dropped into the vents. It hissed as it began to spew smelly smoke. Gungi went to back up and moaned as his head hit the top of the vents. More smoke began to flow through the vents, covering the younglings who started to cough.

He had no other choice. The younglings need to be safe.

Huyang reached up and pushed on the vent covering, sliding it off so they could get out. He reached up...

And was yanked out of the vent by large Weequey who smirked and dangled the old droid in the air. He let go just long enough to wrap a hand around Huyang's neck and slammed him against the wall.

"How dare you? Unhand me at once!"

He ignore Huyang's demands, turning his greedy eyes on the huddled younglings peering up at him from the vent. "Well hello there girls and boys," he cooed before knocking Huyang's head against the wall and dropping him. "We've been looking forward to meeting all of ya."

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Gungi growled, hitting and scratching at the pirate's arm. But the pirate didn't flinch, only increased his grip upon the Wookie's shoulder. Another pirate held his razor sharp blade by Huyang's neck, pinning the droid in place. "Now be nice little Jedi and give us your crystals."

"The only way you're getting our crystals is over my dead body."

"Well then," the pirate and his cohorts laughed. "We're not suppose to, but I'm sure we can arrange just that." Hondo after all hadn't been able to figure out just how many had been on the ship.

As the pirate dropped Gungi onto the floor and rose to his full height, Petro pulled out his lightsaber. It wasn't fixed and was still opened. He pulled it apart a little bit further, dropping the crystal into it and twisting back together with a snap.

"No Petro!" The blade came closer to the metal neck as Katooni leaned close to the boy and whispered in his ear.

"You haven't fixed it yet! The emitter matrix is still inverted." He shook his head and gave her wink as he grasped the hilt in both hands and flicked the saber. The blue blade flicked as he stood as proud and as brave as he could.

"Alright pirates...which one is first?" The blue laser flicked out all the way, came back on, and then died. Petro lowered his hilt and stared at it as the large pirate gave a great belly laugh.

"How do ya like that? That runt is all bark and no bite! Ha!" Petro drew back his arm and then threw his saber as hard as he could. The pirate caught it in his beefy hand and smiled. "Why thank you. I've always wanted a lightsaber." He tossed it lightly.

"Okay, but are you sure can actually handle it?" The pirate chuckled and switched it. He swung the blade back and forth over the younglings heads as they ducked down. Laughing again he raised the saber...

And it began to sputter and grow warm.

"Get down now!" Huyang called to the younglings. Petro grabbed Katooni and the younglings jumped back down into the vents, covering their heads. Huyang yanked free of his captor and threw his body over the vent opening to further protect the younglings just as the lightsaber exploded.

Smoked filled the vents again and it was warm.

Petro lifted his head at the sound of something small hitting the floor and smiled. It was his crystal. He reached out and grabbed it. "Come on guys!" They climbed out of the vents through a second opening. They ran over the limp and stunned pirates who only gave pained moans.

"Quickly now younglings! This way!"

The large pirate slowly came to and lifted his head as his opened. Only to see a Wookie foot before it landed on his head. He coughed and rubbed his face, letting his head fall back.

He hoped he got a bigger cut this time.

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They ducked into a small corridor that connected the two larger ones. Their hearts were pounding as they bent down and panted.

"Petro you could have killed them with that stunt!" Katooni's blue eyes were wide underneath the purple patches on her skin.

"Well we don't have a lot of options here. We can either run away and hide or we can be Jedi. We can stand our ground and fight to show those pirates that we aren't afraid of them!" Gungi thrust his arms up into the air and roared as Byph rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"I agree! We need to fight!"

"Younglings!" The old droid had caught up to them. He was dragging one leg, limping. "You know that I cannot approve of such an action. And even if I did there is now way I would be able to help you in such a fight. I have been too damaged."

"So that means we can't fight..."

"No Byph," Katooni slowly shook her head and spread her hands wide. "No, Petro is right as much as I hate to say it. Standing our ground and fighting is the only option we have left. We either fight or be killed."

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Ahsoka sighed in relief as she entered the engine room. It was odd that other than the smoke bombs, she had not encountered any of the pirates. But she knew better than to question a gift from the Force and set about rerouting power to the engines. It was normally a two person job as one of the levers was located out of reach, but she was a Jedi. Using the Force she was able to pull the lever.

She nodded and tapped her wrist com. "Hey Zatt, come in. Are you there? I've gone ahead and overridden the emergency power fail-safe. All energy is being routed to the engines."

"Checking the readouts...It's working Ahsoka!"

"Good." She fiddled with a few last controls. "Have you heard from the others? Were they able to make it to the hold?"

"No, not yet..."

"What? Where in blazes are they?"

"We don't know. We haven't heard from them since we split up."

"Well that's great," Ahsoka dropped the call and huffed. "I know exactly what that means."

Of course she knew. Because she would probably be doing the exact same thing if she were in their shoes.

Ahsoka left the room, running through the corridors.

Hopefully she found them before the pirates did.

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The Crucible had been set up for the sole purpose of the Gathering. It was why there were drawers upon drawers upon drawers of everything needed to build a lightsaber. Except for the crystal of course.

It was also why it was stocked with more than enough training remotes to allow younglings with their new lightsabers to jump right into learning how to use them.

"Make sure you set them all to the highest level Gungi," Katooni told her friend as they knelt on the floor, messing with the remotes power settings. They had been on the lowest end. The shocks from them would be sharp and hurt, but nothing that would knock them flat on their back. That was the highest setting.

"Got it Katooni!" Gungi finished adjusting the power and switched his last remote on. Then he and Katooni set them down next to the rest on the floor. Gungi slid along the floor until he was just outside the training room.

"Get him!" a pirate's cry echoed over the sound of blaster fire, too sharp to be stun blasts. He could also hear Byph's cries as the Ithorian raced towards the common area, leading the pirates on a merry chase.

He stayed just far enough ahead that the pirates didn't see Gungi who sprang up and ran back into the common room with his friend. "Ouch!" Katooni yelped as Gungi ran right into her and the two fell. "Watch out Gungi!" The Wookie pulled her to her feet.

"Sorry."

"We need to hurry!" The three younglings raced to a small doorway that lead into a back corridor. Katooni slapped the button, but the door stayed open just enough that they could watch what happened through the crack.

"Here kiddies. Here kiddies..." a pirate said as he crept into the room with his partner. "It's safe to come out, innit? No one here's gonna hurt you."

As the Weequey laughed, Katooni hit the call button. "Zatt, it's me. We need to close the door to the training room.

"That you Katooni? Where are you guys?"

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"I don't have to explain right now Zatt. Close the door!" Zatt half turned in the seat he was kneeling on so he could face Artoo.

"You heard her Artoo. Close that door now!" Whistling the astromech rolled up to the nearby port and plugged in. A hurried chat with the system and it was done.

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"Hey!" The door had shut and the room had been plunged into near darkness. "What in hells is going on?" He swung his blaster around, pointing it randomly.

There was an odd whooshing sound. Like mini repulsers all turning on at once. Then he saw blinking red dots seemingly surrounding them on all sides. The pirate narrowed his eyes...

"Youch!" he yelp as a bolt from the remote hit him in the leg. Suddenly they were being peppered with shots from every angle. They were forced to hop, jump, slide from side to side to avoid the stinging shots, but it was no use as the remotes seemed to be able to figure out their next move.

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It wasn't the Jedi way, but Katooni couldn't help but smile and muffle her giggles as they watched the pirates do their funny dance. It made her feel warm, thinking about the fact that they had been able to outsmart them. And they weren't even Padawans yet!

She glanced over at Gungi who gave her a smirk, exposing his sharp Wookie teeth. "Come on Byph," she tugged on their friend's thin arm. This was their chance. The trio jumped to their feet and jogged to the intersection of the corridors where Huyang and Petro were waiting for them. The old droid waved them on ahead.

They could do this.

They could...

Katooni's heart dropped as she hit the button to open the door and discovered that their way was blocked by a few dozen pirates. "No!" she wailed when she realized that the pirates had already seen them. They were laughing, weapons drawn and all aimed at the small group. "We can't get past them to the hold. There's too many blocking it!"

More laughter, the sound of boots against metal came from behind them. They swung around to see more pirates. Huyang pushed them away from the door and hit the button. As soon as the door had shut, a torch flipped out of his arm and Huyang burned the controls so that the other pirates couldn't get through.

"There you are children," Hondo pushed the guilt poking at him further away. They all looked so young. Too young to be killed, but they were Jedi children. They had proven able to take out some of his men. Those men would now want to see Hondo prove his strength which meant, even if he didn't want to, he might have to kill them. "I am impressed. You were able to put up quite a fight. But that was playtime and playtime is over. Now please just give me my crystals and no one needs to get hurt much."

Hondo was so distracted by the children and droid, that he didn't notice the door at the end of a side corridor opening. But he didn't notice it when four of his crew were suddenly flying down the corridor and smashing into another door. "Hondo!" He plastered a smile on his face as his favorite Padawan came into view. Her eyes flashing with her anger. "You know better than anyone that the Jedi Council will not look upon this attack with any kindness."

"But they won't be able to discover who is responsible if there is no one left to tell the tale Ahsoka." He spoke as though he was a wise uncle, imparting the wisdom of the age onto a member of a younger generation.

"You certainly aren't as hospitable as the last time we met," Ahsoka crossed her arms as she turned to face him after checking on her charges.

It was true. He had been kind, for him when he had gone to Onderon to deliver the weapons that the Jedi had bought for the rebels. "How I feel is all based on profit my dear." It wasn't a complete lie. As a pirate he had to follow the profit in order to stay afloat. "Today I feel like getting some crystals."'

Ahsoka smirked. She looked back to Huyang and gave him a sharp nod before patting her hip. Right next to her blades. "If you want crystals so badly Hondo, come get them!" Hondo sighed as she pulled her hilts off her belt, flipping on the sliver and gold blades.

This was what he didn't want to happen. "Get her," he ordered his men as he jerked his head towards the Padawan with her crossed blades.

The younglings and Huyang crept slowly up to her as Piit went after Ahsoka. She didn't even use her sabers. Instead she fell back, then kicked the female Weequey in her stomach so hard that the force made her spin around. Hondo switched on his staff, the ends a cracking purple and charged at her.

"Easy there Ahsoka!"

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"Hurry younglings! Hurry!"

Huyang urged them on as Ahsoka kept Hondo and his crew busy. "But what about Ahsoka Professor?"

"She'll be fine Petro. You just need to trust her. Get in...Oh my!" Petro watched as Huyang's head suddenly went flying off his body. The young Jedi swung around to see Piit propped up on her elbows, blaster smoking after she had shot Huyang. "How rude!" said the head where it had landed near a wall while the body stalked toward the pirate who had gotten to her feet. "Let me tell you something. I've been living on this ship for a thousand years now and never once have I lost a fight!" Piit started to frantically shoot at the headless body lumbering towards her. "I am certainly not going to loose a fight today!" Huyang declared even as his arm was shot off.

Still he kept coming. She shot the other arm off, but he didn't stop. Instead one of his legs lashed out, slamming her stomach in the spot that Ahsoka had kicked her. Piit let out a grunt than a yelp as a metal foot connected with her face and sent her flying.

"Wow!" Petro said. Then he shook himself and gathered up Huyang's arms. Gungi dashed up and picked his head as the body now without arms and legs dashed past him, following Petro.

None of their friends at the Temple were ever going to believe them about this.

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Hondo was skilled, Ahsoka would give him that. He was handling his staff as though he had been training with it since the time he could walk. She bent back, her blades crossed to block the cracking staff. "Had we known you were going to be here Ahsoka, then I would have just asked for the crystals directly. That way this whole messy situation could have been avoided."

"You can just walk away," she pointed out. She hoped he would because even though he was a pirate, the older men in her family still viewed him with some respect because of his high morals. Flexible morals, but still high morals for a pirate. "Hondo you know that I don't want to hurt you."

"I know that Ahsoka and I really do appreciate that some part of you cares for me."

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"Zatt we all made it to the hold!" Petro yelled into the ship's com as he shut the hold door. "But Ahsoka's not with us. She's still out there fighting the pirates!"

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"Ahsoka! Ahsoka come in! The others made it to the hold. They're inside!" Ahsoka jumped back from Hondo as Zatt's voice came over her com.

"What are you waitng for Zatt?" She eyed Hondo and the two pirates backing him up. They all had smirks on their faces as they watched her.

"What will happen to you?"

"Just do it Zatt!" Ahsoka shouted. The pirates started to run towards her and she was forced to back up. She brought her blades up again...

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He didn't want to do it.

But he was a Jedi.

Zatt pressed the button and the engines began to rev. He grabbed the steering control and jerked it to one side. The ship began to shake as it fought to pull free.

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The pirates left behind on the Acushnet, the pirates left behind glanced at each other. The ship was groaning, shaking. Lights on the panels and screens began to flicker. Was this some part of Hondo's plan that he hadn't told them about?

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Ahsoka stumbled back as the ship shook hard. Hondo rammed into the wall while his crew hit the ground. She smiled a little. This plan would work.

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It was working! They just needed to pull away a little bit more...

Zatt pulled harder on the control. He jerked it as far as he could to one side. The Crucible groaned and he thought for sure he could something popping. Atroo whistled as he went sliding across the floor.

But that didn't matter.

All that mattered was getting the pirates off the ship and away from them.

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The ship jerked sharply to one side and they all went stumbling. Gungi let out a yelp as Huyang's head rolled out of his hands and along the floor until it stopped by his body.

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Hondo had staggered to his feet and once again charged at Ahsoka. She thrust her blade up in a parry to his staff when she felt it.

The rushing air that meant her plan had worked. The ship had been pulled from the hooks and maybe even some of the docking tubes. Out of the corner of her eye she could already see the pirates lunging on for anything they could hold as the vacuum pulled at them, dragging them down the corridors to where the air was coming in through.

She smiled as Hondo lost his footing and let the air lift her up. Ahsoka wrapped the Force around her, using it to help her keep her grip as she landed on the wall on all fours. Hondo had grabbed onto the edge of a support. He started at her in shock and anger as she crawled closer to the corner. "What in all the hells are you doing Ahsoka?"

"Getting you off my ship Hondo!" She rose, standing on the wall. She ran along for a few feet before jumping off and using the Force to move her across the corridor and landing on the opposite wall. She narrowed her eyes as she ran along the wall and then kicked Hondo in the chin.

His head snapped back with a grunt and the pair went spinning through the air. Hondo slammed into the walls as they flew past them. Ahsoka let the current move her until they got to the docking tube which was almost disconnected. The pirates had latched onto a metal pole that had broken off to keep from getting pulled all the way back to their ship. As she watched one of the pirates was sucked through the gap between ship and tube, his screams rapidly dying away in the coldness of space.

Hondo grabbed onto another support, but Ahsoka wasn't going to let him stay. She aimed for him, grabbing his shoulders and using all her strength to flip him over her and back into the vacuum. He joined the other pirates, grabbing onto whatever they could in the tube.

She reached out and latched onto the edge of the ship. Ahsoka turned her head as she head yelping and sharp cries. Another pirate came racing around the corner. She reached out with the Force, grabbed him, and threw him into the tube. Hondo let out a yelp as the pirate crashed into him which sent him crashing into the other pirates. The bigger pirate reached out and caught Hondo. Ahsoka reached out again and shoved them hard.

As they fell back to the ship, Ahsoka let go and let herself be carried to the outside hatch where she grabbed on. "Zatt!" she called out as she hit the door controls and closed...halfway. She hit the controls again and again. "It's all clear. Make the jump now!"

A shrill warning echoed through her montrals and raced through her body. Ahsoka swung around just as a pirate slammed into her. She gave a short cry as she lost her grip and her head smacked against the frame.

Then everything was black and the door shut.

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Zatt grabbed the lever and pulled. He could hear Ganodi next to him let out a sigh of relief as the stars stretched out and became the swirling blue, white, and black matrix of hyperspace.

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The jump had been a short one. Just long enough to get them away from the pirates so they could make the call for help.

"Yes!" Zatt, Artoo, and Ganodi turned as Zatt and the others, Huyang's head in Gungi's arms, raced into the cockpit. Petro was waving his arms in victory, pumping his fist in the air. "We won! Those damn pirates are off the ship!" He ignored Katooni's look at his choice of words.

"We did it, but..."

"Not all of us are in one piece."

"Oh no," Katooni's eyes widen when she realized just what the state of their teacher was. "Oh Professor Huyang."

"It's okay. Give him to me and I'll fix him up." Zatt hopped off his seat, holding his arms out for Huyang's arms and head.

"Anyway you guys should have seen Ahsoka!" Petro began to wave his arms around in a wild imitation of the Padawan's skills. "She took on all those pirates by herself and wiped the floor with them!"

"Wait a minute...where is Ahsoka?" The younglings looked around the cockpit and realized that Ahsoka wasn't there. Ganodi pressed the ship com button.

"Padawan Tano? Ahsoka come in. Are you there? Can you hear me?" The others gathered near the com, worry and fear dropping down over their faces. "Ahsoka? Ahsoka please come in!"

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This was not what he had wanted.

Not what he had wanted at all.

Shaking his head, Hondo turned to face Ahsoka, struggling in the arms of her much-larger captor. "This day you have cost me a great deal Ahsoka. And because of that lost profit, you leave me no other choice." He gestured and one of his crew slammed the butt of his rifle into the back of her already aching head.

She slumped forward, eyes closed. Hondo stepped close to her, gently grabbing her chin and turning it from side to side. He ran a finger over her lips thinking what-ifs, but there was no point to them. He let go and stepped back.

The secret buyer of kyber crystals was also apparently looking for young Jedi with ranks no higher than Knights. Like the crystals he didn't say what he wanted them for, but he was offering just as high a price.

"I have to turn you into my profit."

And once more he had to shove that stabbing feeling of guilt to the side.

Translations

poodoo: fodder